- Music
- 05 Aug 03
McGuinness has established himself as something of a retro antidote to Dublin’s modern-day, introspective singer songwriters – the emphasis, it would appear, is on making fun, psychedelic records, and looking damn fine while doing it.
One thing is for certain tonight, Think’s Terry McGuinness certainly looks like a rockstar. It seems as though Ireland’s newest dandy highwayman has arrived on the scene, and not a moment too soon.
McGuinness has evidently spent time at the altars of Marc Bolan and David Bowie, taking extensive notes on style and performance and it’s a comparison not lost on the attendees of tonight’s single launch. Having made friends in high places and influenced the likes of Tom Dunne, McGuinness has established himself as something of a retro antidote to Dublin’s modern-day, introspective singer songwriters – the emphasis, it would appear, is on making fun, psychedelic records, and looking damn fine while doing it. As a game plan, it’s got a lot going for it.
Having said that, it would appear that the gospel of Think has yet to convert the masses; The Village is a pretty expansive space to fill and may have been a bit of an ambitious undertaking in the context.
Things start promisingly with an atmospheric, modern-day instrumental wall of sound, and the band come out fighting – but the live marriage of modern digital dots and loops, and 1970’s prog pop doesn’t always gel on the night.
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That Think possess the seeds of something strong is not in doubt. Gimme That Sound is a well-produced and highly polished studio album, but translating the production values and gimmicks to the live arena is a difficult challenge. On the night they produce a fine, competent set. The next step is to turn it into something really special.
No doubt his will be a story worth following in the coming months. Once the band figure a way to make their live shows as multi-dimensional as their studio work, the city will be theirs for the taking.